Ardie Savea Named All Blacks Captain for Inaugural Nations Championship

Ardie Savea has been appointed captain of the New Zealand All Blacks for the inaugural Nations Championship, as new head coach Dave Rennie unveiled his first squad for the international competition. Rennie, who took over as head coach at the start of the year, has selected Savea to lead the team in the absence of regular skipper Scott Barrett.

Barrett, who captained the side under the previous coaching regime of Scott Robertson, will miss the Nations Championship fixtures against France, Italy, and Ireland in July due to an injury. Despite Barrett’s unavailability, his brothers Beauden and Jordie have been included in the 34-man squad.

New Additions to the Squad

The squad announcement also revealed four players who could make their debut for the All Blacks. Among them is wing Fehi Fineanganofo, who recently set a new Super Rugby Pacific try-scoring record during the Hurricanes’ final victory over the Chiefs. Fineanganofo is set to join Newcastle Falcons in the Gallagher Premiership next season.

German-born back rower Anton Segner is another uncapped player in the squad, offering an intriguing prospect in the forward pack. Completing the quartet of potential debutants are Hurricanes teammates Xavier Numia, an athletic prop, and Josh Moorby, a versatile player who can feature in multiple backline positions.

Savea’s Leadership Vision

Upon his appointment as captain, Savea expressed his gratitude and commitment to the role. “To serve this team, its people and its fans is one of the greatest honours in sport,” Savea stated. “I believe this role is about empowering everyone in the group to be the best that they can be – from the leadership, to the players and wider staff.”

He added, “We pay tribute to those who have gone before us while also acknowledging that the responsibility of writing the next chapter in the All Blacks story lies with us.”

Unavailable Players

Several players were unavailable for selection for this squad. Prop Tamaiti Williams, lock Fabian Holland, and Leicester Fainga’anuku, who has been playing both flanker and in the backline for the Crusaders, are all currently sidelined and did not feature in Rennie’s selection.

Busy International Schedule Ahead

The Nations Championship marks the beginning of a demanding international schedule for the All Blacks. Following their matches against France, Italy, and Ireland in July, New Zealand is also set to face South Africa in a significant four-Test series later in the year. This series against their traditional rivals will be a key indicator of the team’s progress under Rennie and Savea’s leadership.

Key facts
| Player | Role | Status |
|—————|———————-|————-|
| Ardie Savea | Captain | Confirmed |
| Scott Barrett | Lock | Unavailable |
| Dave Rennie | Head Coach | Confirmed |
| Fehi Fineanganofo | Wing | Potential Debutant |

This development is significant for NationalSportsWeb readers as it marks the beginning of a new era for the All Blacks under a new coach and captain. The Nations Championship and subsequent series against South Africa will provide early insights into the team’s strategy and form for the upcoming international rugby calendar.

Source: Yahoo Sports – Ardie Savea to captain New Zealand in Nations Championship as Dave Rennie names first All Blacks squad (https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/ardie-savea-captain-zealand-nations-060243954.html)

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